Climate Compatible Development (CCD) aims to deliver adaptation and mitigation without
compromising development progress. To date, adaptation, mitigation and development related to
key climate-sensitive sectors have often been treated separately. This paper uses qualitative document
analysis, content analysis, expert interviews and a multi-stakeholder workshop to: examine the extent
to which policies in climate-sensitive sectors align in framing adaptation, mitigation and development
action; and identify key areas of policy coherence in Ghana. The paper answers the following
questions: (i) To what extent are Ghana’s agriculture, energy, water, forest and wildlife sector policies
aligned with climate adaptation, mitigation and development? (ii) What is the extent of policy
coherence amongst climate-sensitive sector policies? (iii) Where are the key intervention points
available to enhance CCD activities? Findings demonstrate that Ghana’s climate-sensitive sector
policies in agriculture, water, energy, forest and wildlife arenas have elements that demonstrate good
alignment with adaptation, mitigation, and development priorities. However, as yet, there is only
“limited coherence” between climate-sensitive sector policies. The paper identifies the following
intervention points: (i) the need to attach greater importance to the threat posed by climate change to
agriculture; and (ii) the need to address the lack of inter-agency and inter-ministerial approaches for
building partnerships with other stakeholders. Multi-stakeholder workshop discussions highlighted
significant challenges relating to limited coordination amongst institutions and agencies, limited
institutional capacity and a lack of resources in ensuring coherence. This requires strengthening of
national institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide appropriate
mechanisms to ensure effective collaboration amongst climate-sensitive sectors to deliver “triple
wins”. The EPA could exert greater influence by nominating “climate champions” in sector ministries.

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An article published in Sustainability; 2017, 9, 2130; doi:10.3390/su9112130